Carter, playing center while Mike Richards recovers from a concussion, returned to the game and assisted on the empty-net goal that capped the Kings' 3-1 victory and cut the Blackhawks' Western Conference finals lead to two games to one.

Keith, who leads Chicago with an average of 24 minutes 44 seconds' ice time per game, will miss Game 4 on Thursday at Staples Center.

Carter is expected to play as the Kings try to extend their home winning streak to 16.

What are a few stitches and soreness when your playoff prospects are on the line?

The one-handed and admittedly retaliatory swing earned Keith a deserved one-game suspension from the NHL.

Keith, enraged after Carter had slashed at his bare hand, might have been aiming at Carter's shoulder and later apologized for his poor aim.Still, he had to be held accountable for striking Carter in the face and for the damage he caused.While Keith got a game off, Carter got about 20 stitches on the outside and inside of his mouth, one chipped tooth, and a couple of cracked teeth."But I didn't actually lose any," Carter said with that remarkably matter-of-fact tone hockey players use to downplay injuries that leave lesser athletes in helpless tears."We were battling in front of the net, up the ice," Carter said in recapping what happened. We have to get ready to play."The Kings have no choice but to be ready."I think I took a swing at his glove there — he was trying to pick it up. Next thing I knew, I was getting a stick to the face."Asked during a news conference Wednesday how Carter was doing, Kings Coach Darryl Sutter had a quick response."Awesome. To be quite honest, it never has."Carter shrugged off suggestions the Kings were angry and might retaliate Thursday."There's bigger things to worry about right now," he said, his speech slightly impaired by a swollen lip and a gap where a bridge sat until it fell out last week. I don't think that's on our minds."If he does get suspended, it's a huge loss for their team. They're still trailing in the series, more battered and bruised every day, and still unsure if Richards will return Thursday.I wish I was Jeff Carter today," Sutter said, drawing laughter from the assembled media. Richards, injured on an unpenalized hit by Chicago's Dave Bolland in Game 1, worked out lightly Tuesday and skated Wednesday with the Kings' extra players, but his status remains uncertain.